Ukrainian Navy unmanned boats attacked two sanctioned oil tankers in the Black Sea on Saturday (November 29), as they were heading towards a Russian port to load oil destined for foreign markets. This action is seen as one of Ukraine’s attempts to exert pressure on Russia’s vast oil industry.
A Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) official told Reuters that the two tankers were identified as the “Kairos” and “Virat,” both sailing empty towards the major Russian Black Sea oil terminal of Novorossiysk.
Video footage shared by the official showed the unmanned boats swiftly approaching the massive tankers, followed by a violent explosion that resulted in the ships catching fire. The Epoch Times could not independently verify the identity of the tankers in the video or the filming location and date.
The official stated in a written statement, “The video shows that after being hit, both tankers suffered severe damage and are currently out of service. This will significantly impact Russia’s oil transportation.”
These unmanned boats are drone speedboats filled with explosives that detonate upon reaching their target. They have played a crucial role in Ukraine’s Black Sea counteroffensive, aiding in repelling Russia’s formidable fleet of warships.
For months, Ukraine has been using long-range aerial drones to attack Russian refineries located far behind the front lines of the war. This attack on the tankers represents a different type of assault.
The Turkish Ministry of Transport reported that the 274-meter-long “Kairos” tanker experienced an explosion and fire on Friday while en route from Egypt to Russia. The crew has been evacuated by lifeboats, with firefighting efforts still ongoing.
The ministry also stated that the “Virat” was attacked further east in the Black Sea, about 35 nautical miles offshore. Additionally, the “Virat” was hit again by unmanned boats on Saturday morning, sustaining minor damages above the waterline of the starboard, but the vessel remains stable, and the crew is in good health.
According to data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), both the “Kairos” and “Virat” were listed on the list of sanctioned vessels imposed on Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Ukraine has repeatedly urged the West to take concrete actions against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” Despite sanctions being in place, Ukraine claims that this fleet consisting of hundreds of mostly old and unregulated vessels continues to aid Russia in exporting large amounts of oil, funding its war efforts in Ukraine.
Reports also indicate that the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which handles over 1% of global oil transportation, announced that operations have been suspended after a Ukrainian Navy unmanned boat attack on a mooring facility at the Russian Black Sea terminal. The CPC primarily exports oil from Kazakhstan through Russian and Black Sea ports. Kazakhstan has deemed this attack as unacceptable.
As of now, there has been no public comment from the Russian side regarding this incident.